"Least restrictive environment" is a term used in the special education world to describe the ideal setting for students requiring accommodations. This term and related legislation are designed to keep students with special needs in as normalized and "real" an environment as possible. The idea that learning and growth occur most powerfully in a real-world environment was somewhat radical when John Dewey proposed it over 100 years ago in his theory of experiential learning. But nowdays, most educators and mental health providers take this notion for granted.

The Vive! model is based on the idea that the least restrictive environment that a child can safely and successfully handle is the best environment for learning and growth. What we really mean by "least restrictive" is "most authentic." That's why Vive! works with teens and young adults exclusively in their real-world environment-i.e. in the context of their home, community and family. Until new social, coping, and self-management skills can be mastered in this environment, they are not likely to be sustained over time. Post-treatment relapse and recidivism rates tend to be extremely high, and Vive! believes that this is largely due to inadequate aftercare and transition support in the young person's home environment.

Highly restrictive environments, such as those provided by residential treatment programs, hospitals, and therapeutic boarding schools, are often necessary for safe and effective crisis intervention. The changes achieved in these settings, however, can become quite fragile once the young person leaves. This is because those changes have occurred in an artificial setting, one in which certain environmental triggers and influences have been systematically removed. Once a young person leaves such an environment, the work must continue in the home setting in order to ensure that skills learned in treatment transfer to the real world. This kind of intensive, real-world aftercare ensures the highest probability of sustainable change.

So while it is often necessary to resort to more restrictive environments for the initial treatment of acute emotional, behavioral and substance abuse problems, there is always a strong case to be made for continuing that therapeutic work in the young person's natural environment. Young people whose emotional and behavioral issues have not escalated to a point yet requiring residential treatment can also greatly benefit from intensive work in their home and community. In general, then, the most authentic environment that a child can safely and successfully handle tends to be the best option for lasting change.

About the Author:
Will Laughlin, MA, MEd, has been a teacher, professor, and program director in both traditional and special needs education for the past twenty years. He is currently the director of business development for Vive! Inc. Vive! is a therapeutic, action-oriented program that works with troubled youth and at-risk teens and their families in the home environment. The program has been particularly effective in continuing the progress gained in residential treatment programs for the transition home. The program's success has brought families from across the United States to Vive! The company is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with a Northern California office in Menlo Park and a Southern California office in Beverly Hills. Vive! plans to expand to six additional markets in 2007. For more information, contact Vive! at www.vivenow.com or 800-261-0127 or HoldenMcClurePR at 303-449-2526.